about our church?

How we want to serve this community can be found in Jesus’ own words: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to see me.” Jesus went on to say that “whatever you have done to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-40). This is how we want to share the love of Jesus to this community in very practical ways. We also want to invite others to join us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, one precious person at a time.   

But our vision goes beyond just the physical needs of White Oaks’ residents. Jesus also said to his followers: “As you go, proclaim the message that the kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:7,8). Our church believes in the power of prayer, and we have seen amazing things happen when we have prayed for people. Whether we are on the elevator, walking to No Frills, sitting under the trees in the park on Sunday, or just strolling around our wonderful community, it’s our vision that everyone we meet has a spiritual encounter with Jesus, just as we have! So, don’t be surprised if someone walks up to you and asks, “Hey, is there anything I can pray for you about?” 

The church in White Oaks all started with the idea that the church is not a building. Though there is nothing wrong with a church building, we believe that when the Bible uses the word church, it always means the believers who fellowship together in Christ’s name. When church first got started 2,000 years ago, Christians met in people's homes, or even met outside (1 Corinthians 16:19,20; Acts 16:13). 

We started meeting in a small apartment in building 200. As our numbers grew, we moved to the Community Connections room in building 101. The space was free, plus we now had a kitchen available to serve food.  But then Covid hit, and we were no longer allowed to meet indoors; so we simply moved our church outside. You may have seen us sitting in a circle, worshiping and singing, in the park, or even in the courtyard on cold, winter days. No matter how bad the weather was, we would faithfully meet each Sunday because we felt it was so important to fellowship and encourage each other. The Bible says: “Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten in the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other” (Hebrews 10:25-27). 

As Covid restrictions change, along with the seasons and weather, we adjust where we meet on a weekly basis. On rainy days or in the winter, we meet in one of our apartments. On nice days we meet outside in the park. But whether in an apartment or outside under a shady tree, it will be somewhere in White Oaks. We can better serve the community by being in the community. Please check the Home Page for our weekly updated location. The place where we gather doesn’t really matter to us. What matters is the people.   

We are not Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, or any other denomination, although we welcome everyone from every church background and believe that Jesus has true followers in every organized church.  We believe that what unites us together is our love for Jesus and our love for each other.  Of course, we do believe in Biblical Truth and hold fast to those truths with passion and conviction.  Click here to learn what we believe.  But as important as truth is, we always hold love as our number one goal (1 Cor 13:1-3).

Giving is a principle all through the Bible. All our Pastors and Leaders are volunteers and are not being paid. Also, we do not have the expense of a building to maintain. This means that 100 percent of our giving can go to people in our community who are in need. And this does not even have to be done through the church. You can give personally in secret as God places people in front of you who are in need. 

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them everything I have told you” (Matthew 28:19,20). Did you know that most people in the world today are being baptized in rivers or even bathtubs? It does not matter where you are baptized, or even who baptizes you; what matters is your heart and obedience to the gospel. As you go under the water you are proclaiming your willingness to die to everything sinful in your life. And as you come up out of the water, you are proclaiming you are born again, that you now have a new life, and you are now a new creation. (Read Romans 6) Baptism is the most wonderful expression of obedience to the gospel!

Just like the early church in the Bible, we have communion every Sunday. Jesus said: “This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me . . . This cup is the new covenant of my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:23-25). Communion reminds us from where our forgiveness and holiness come--Christ. It does not come from our own efforts. The bread and grape juice of which we partake during communion remind us that by Jesus taking our punishment of sin on the cross, we can be free from sin’s penalty and its ugly power. As a church, we celebrate that we are a forgiven and free people. Communion is a joyous time we share together. 

Church is so much more than just meeting every Sunday for an hour. We become a family, encouraging each other throughout the week, and using our unique spiritual gifts to speak into each other’s lives. There are no pastor-kings. Everyone’s gift is vital to the health and vitality of our family. As the Bible says, “So, Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers to equip his people for works of service” (Ephesians 4:11,12). Hence, everyone’s gift matters. There are no spectators in our family. We help each other to develop a deep relationship with God so they can help equip the rest of the church for works of service. That is what it means to “make disciples,” equipping each of us to follow Jesus, not being followers of a religion or a particular denomination, but by becoming more and more like Jesus in all that we say and do.